FBI Offers Reward in 8-Year-Old Missing D.C. Girl Case

FBI Offers Reward in 8-Year-Old Missing D.C. Girl Case

The FBI has offered a reward for Relisha Rudd, an 8-year-old homeless D.C. girl who has been missing for nearly a month.

Published March 25, 2014

Relisha Tenau Rudd, 8, is not only missing, but is believed to have been kidnapped by Kahlil Malik Tatum, 51, who was charged with murdering his wife in a hotel room last week.

The FBI, who has stepped in to investigate the case, is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to finding the Washington, D.C., girl. The Prince George's Country Police of Maryland are offering a separate reward for up to $25,000 for information that may lead to Tatum's arrest.

Before she vanished, Rudd was living in the D.C. General family homeless shelter for 18 months with her mother, her stepfather and three siblings. Tatum, a janitor there, was known for giving money to the girls in the shelter.

Rudd grew close to him to the point that her mother Shamika Young let her go home with Tatum and spend the night, according to The Washington Post. On Feb. 26, Rudd went home with Tatum and has not been seen since.

An Amber alert was issued for Rudd last Thursday (March 20) and a vigil was held Saturday outside the shelter for the girl. Other homeless families remain in distress over her disappearance.

Rudd is described as a Black female, 4 feet tall, who weighs between 70 and 80 pounds. She has black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion, according to CBS DC.

Police ask anyone with information on Relisha to call D.C. Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099, the Youth Investigations Division at 202-576-6768, or 911.

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